Another reissue from Liberation Hall. Recorded live in Montreal it is a welcome addition to the Cannonball canon particularly as I don't think the original issue made it across 'the pond'.
It's a cracker and it's hard to believe Cannonball Adderley would have a debilitating stroke leading to his death just three months after this concert - he was only 46-years-old. One of jazz's many tragedies.
He's very much alive here his playing and announcing both profound and humorous.
It's a soulful album that, unlike Dizzy's Soul & Salvation, reviewed yesterday, doesn't come across as contrived but relaxed and natural.
Nat Adderley's Five of a Kind features driving stickwork from McCurdy with Cannon laying down some wild alto. Brother Nat, who began the number on cornet, switches to trumpet to further fan the flames and Wolff, who released a trio recording under his own name earlier this year, puts the Fender Rhodes to good use before McCurdy takes it out.
Wolff has his own feature on Ron Carter's First Trip. Only 22 at the time his later maturity was already showing.
The band must have made n+ recordings of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and I doubt if a live audience would have allowed them to leave if they didn't play the Joe Zawinul classic. This one's different inasmuch as the leader swaps his alto for soprano. All well and good except that he's about a million miles away from the mic so we don't get the full impact. However, we get enough to realise he was a monster on that instrument too.
The Scene, a number they invariably closed the set with, has the leader back on alto before name-checking the band.
Cannonball introduces Waban with perceptive humour before the spotlight falls on Booker and Wolff. Arco bass from the former and rippling dreamy piano from the latter.
He pontificates at length, as always partly sincere, partly tongue in cheek, before dedicating Country Preacher to the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Jackson himself would return the compliment at Cannonball Adderley's funeral.
A beautiful album. Lance
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